This was the first piece of music equipment I ever bought back in 1999, and after going through a pile of equipment (from Emu romplers to Oakley modulars) and thus wasting a pile of money, I now find myself back with this beautiful, simplistic machine and a couple of analogue synths for making simple electronica...and it is like coming home.

For getting a groove going and processing samples,, there really is nothing finer than this little wonder box. What is it that keeps bringing me back to it again and again? Ease of operation. It is the most intuitive and well thought out piece of equipment I have ever used, and when you know this machine inside out and back to front (like I do) you can really make this box shine. Hell, i made mine do things that you would not believe was coming from an 8 voice 32khz sampler....I even got it to do the ironing at one point, but it locked up on me out of boredom (can't say I blame it.)

I think there is deep philosophy in the xox system of programming. Being able to directly see and physically touch each beat brings one closer to the music, just like touching the key of a piano. A lot of other sequencing equipment will not bring you this close to the sound, therefore one feels at a greater distance to it....and thus less personal connection with it. This is where the xox method comes in because it is instantly demanding you to physically engage with it right before your eyes. You can see the beats/sounds, just like you can see the piano keys, and then you can touch the beats/sounds to bring them in and out of the rythym. Basically, you are in control.

This machine has got soul.

Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Saturday-Oct-11-2008 at 11:33

sam
a hobbyist user
from U.S.
writes:

Correction: I was refering to the "chop" function on the Roland MC-09. I've since bought an Electribe EM-1, and it's because of the ES-1's excellent sequencer that I knew I wanted to own another Korg.

Rating: 2 out of 5
posted Saturday-Aug-23-2008 at 12:56

sam
a hobbyist user
from U.S.A.
writes:

In regards to the "time slice" function on the ES-1, it sounds very processed. I know it sounds funny, but I prefer the "slice" function on the Roland MC-08. The reverb effect isn't even usable in a cheesy-on-purpose sort of way. I guess as a sample-based drum machine, this unit is reasonable. I'm going to try out another Zoom Sampletrak.

Rating: 2 out of 5
posted Saturday-Feb-24-2007 at 18:02

mike vitale
a part-time user
from usa
writes:

this thing is basically a little lo-fi computer. you can do all the same stuff on this as you can on a computer. it's not professional quality but if you resample your sounds 2 octaves up you instantly get this heady, grainy, lo-fi sound. slice sample is a must. has cool, uncommon effects like decimator, isolator and a res filter which when applied to a kick, for example, and thrown up an octave= instant bass. definitely get a smartmedia card. don't buy this thing if you don't have a laid back approach to music, the sound is definitely lo-fi and probably won't be fucking you up the ass anytime soon.

Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Tuesday-Feb-13-2007 at 07:51

attila
a part-time user
from Ireland
writes:

It is great. Get one. You CAN pitch the samples in step edit mode as well, check manual, motion value, motion destination. Easy and sounds good.